One common criticism of attempts to redistribute financial income — for purposes of fairness — is that financial income is generally earned, after some fashion. Is the government also going to redistribute good looks, talents like a great voice or acting ability, or height (from the tall to the short)? I think I read a research paper of some kind where this worked out fantastically well. Depends on your definition of “well” I suppose.

I am glad to see that the current administration has proven faithful to its philosophy and is now distributing jobs without regards to qualification or merit.

It is not every 31-year-old who, in a first government job, finds himself dismantling General Motors and rewriting the rules of American capitalism.

But that, in short, is the job description for Brian Deese, a not-quite graduate of Yale Law School who had never set foot in an automotive assembly plant until he took on his nearly unseen role in remaking the American automotive industry.

Nor, for that matter, had he given much thought to what ailed an industry that had been in decline ever since he was born.

Recommendation: It appears increasingly likely that a) most jobs will be controlled by Washington in the future and that b) these jobs will be distributed on a semi-random basis, with little regard to qualifications or merit. This provides an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to find employment, change careers, or remake an American industry according to their hastily conceived notions. If you fall into one of these categories, we suggest you immediately contribute a modest sum to the Democratic Party of Hope, move to Washington, and wait. Develop a special trait such as a “beard that appears and disappears” that will allow you to catch the eye of a patron. Then re-design the industry of your choice. I’ve always had a taste for Plastics, myself. Or maybe Cable.

Comments

I think the question that you should be asking is: how could an unqualified 31-year-old called Brian make any more of a hash of GM than its previous management did? What, are you afraid he’s going to start building overpriced ugly fuelhogs that no one wants to buy, and push the company to the verge of bankruptcy? O NOES!

“O’Beirne’s staff posed blunt questions to some candidates about domestic politics: Did you vote for George W. Bush in 2000? Do you support the way the president is fighting the war on terror? Two people who sought jobs with the U.S. occupation authority said they were even asked their views on Roe v. Wade.
Many of those chosen by O’Beirne’s office to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran Iraq’s government from April 2003 to June 2004, lacked vital skills and experience. A 24-year-old who had never worked in finance — but had applied for a White House job — was sent to reopen Baghdad’s stock exchange. The daughter of a prominent neoconservative commentator and a recent graduate from an evangelical university for home-schooled children were tapped to manage Iraq’s $13 billion budget, even though they didn’t have a background in accounting…”

I think the principle of two wrongs don’t make a right is applicable here. The WaPo article you pointed out is similarly absurd. As a site we’re “Lot” agnostic (articles below are a sampling of stuff against the previous “Lot”), but I’d speak for the other in saying we are against most of the political class. And that the political class would allow these two scenarios to be acceptable is part of the reason why.

To prefer a 31yo Yale Law grad with no business background to shape GM because “he couldn’t do worse” is stupid, because then hey who cares who is President? Grimace couldn’t possibly do worse than Bush, let’s get that purple mother f***** in the White House ASAP. Maybe the Fry Guys can form his cabinet, since they couldn’t possible do worse than Cheney et alia. I’m not so cynical to think that even when it comes to politically appointed positions, we aren’t better off with someone who knows nothing than someone who knows something and has actual relevant experience, whether that be finance, or running a company, or managing risk, or really anything other than being a legally trained political aide.

I would love to nationalize the “gentleman’s club” and greater “adult entertainment” industry. I think there’s alot of systemic risk that needs to be addressed by a “Pron Czar” a gig that as a Patriot I will gladly accept.

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